Piper PA-46-310P Malibu
Piper · United States · first flew 1982 · light aircraft
The Piper PA-46-310P Malibu was the world's first pressurised single-engine piston production aircraft, offering owner-pilots the comfort and altitude capability of a pressurised cabin without the cost and complexity of a twin.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Sleek low-wing fuselage with six-seat pressurised cabin and pointed nose |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Pressurised single-engine piston with a Continental TSIO-520-BE — unique in offering pressurisation in a single-engine design
- Long-range cruise at altitude above weather, a capability previously available only in twin-engine aircraft
- Sleek low-wing fuselage with six-seat pressurised cabin and pointed nose
The long, wide fuselage with porthole-style cabin windows hints at pressurisation; the single nose engine and low-wing layout with retractable gear closely resemble the Saratoga but the Malibu's fuselage is markedly deeper.
Specifications
- The Piper PA-46-310P Malibu has a length of 8.72 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.11 m (43 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 385 km/h (239 mph).
- Typical crew: 1 pilot + up to 5 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1982 and entering service in 1984, the original Malibu used the Continental TSIO-520-BE engine. Engine reliability concerns and a series of fatal accidents led Piper to replace the Continental with the Lycoming TIO-540 in the Malibu Mirage from 1988 onward. The PA-46 airframe subsequently became the basis for the turboprop Malibu Meridian.
Variants
PA-46-310P Malibu (Continental engine, 1984–1988); PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage (Lycoming engine, 1989 onward); PA-46-500TP Malibu Meridian (turboprop).
Where you'll see it
The Malibu is popular with high-hour private pilots in North America and Europe who need to cruise above weather in a single-engine aircraft; it is a regular visitor to UK and European general aviation airports.
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